title: Multiple sclerosis outcome and morbi-mortality of a Brazilian cohort patients.
abstract: We studied the clinical and evolution characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients followed since the onset of HUCFF/UFRJ in 1978. The diagnosis of MS was based on Poser's et al. and MC Donald's et al. criteria. From 188 patients, 122 were included. Eighty-five were females. The mean age onset was 32.2 years-old (range 6.0 to 61.0+/-10.3), mainly Caucasians (82/67%). The relapsing-remitting course (MSRR) was more frequent (106/86.8%). Monosymptomatic onset was significantly more frequent in Caucasians than in Afro-Brazilians (p<0.05). Seventeen patients had benign form of MS and these patients presented association with MSRR when compared with severe form (p=0.01). The mortality rate was 2.12% (4 patients died). This study was similar to other Brazilian series with regard to sex and age, and lack of correlation between EDSS and number of relapses; it confirmed south-southeast African-descendants gradient distribution and association between first mono-symptomatic relapses and Caucasian; we found lower frequency of benign forms.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Professor Rodolpho Paulo Rocco 255, 21941-913 Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil. sonizavleon@globo.com
authors.forename: Soniza Vieira
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Alves-Leon
authors.forename: Fabíola Rachid
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Malfetano
authors.forename: Maria Lucia Veluttini
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.forename: Claudio Luiz Duque
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: Valéria Coelho Santa Rita
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Assuncíon Martinez
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Liem
authors.forename: Sérgio Augusto Pereira
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Novis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult